Universal joint



web@ 1926.; 1,576,089

E. G. BURNS UNIVERSAL' JOINT l Filled March l0.` v1925 l YSheetS-Shee.:

V INVENTORQ ELME/e @BUR/v5 BY @im afn" f A TTORNEYS.

PROTO-MTH@ In SACKETTBWlLHELMS CORR NY March 9 1926. i,56,l)81)4 E.y G. BURNS UNIVERSAL JINT. Filedmaroh 1o, w25l 2 'Smets-sheet g IN VEN TOR. ELME/a 6. B UQNS l ATTORNEYS.`

Patented' Mar. '9, 1926;

uri 'ATE- Emana GQ BURNS, oF Los AGELES, cnnironnia.

UNIVERSAL JorNT.

application led March 10, l1925. 'Se'iial No. 114,5\10.

i certain new and useful Improvements iii Uniif'ersaldoints, of which the following is a specification'.4

My invention relates tov and has for-its purpose the provision of a universal; joint of extremely simple, inexpensive .and du-l rable construction which effectively operates to connect a driving shaft and a driven shaft in such manner'as to-permit true universal movement of either shaft yet maintains a driving connection between the two.

Itis also a purpose of my invention tol i provide a universal joint whichembodies ball and socket element associated to provide relative large and substantial bearing surfaces s o as to e'ectivelywithstand the severe strains and stresses -to which they are subjected when in use.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a universaljointof the-above described character having ports and passages therein by means of whicha thorough lubrication of all themoving parts of the lvjoint can be effected. I will describe only one form of universal joint embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel 'features thereofr in claims.

In the accompanying drawingsinfr my invention.

I 2Figure 2. is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa central vertical section of the joint as illustrated in Figure 2.

' Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the two sections of a housing comprised in the joint shown in preceding views. i Figure 6 is fa dis-assembled view showing in perspective the ball. and socket members comprised lin-the joint shown in the preceding views.'A

Similar reference characters referto similar parts in each of the severalv views'. l

Referring specifically to the drawings,

particularly to Figure 1, my 'inventionin its'- present embodiment is shown as comprising a driven shaft D providedat one end with a flattened portion or neck 15 the free end of said shaft being formed .with a ball head' 16,

thereto through a\duct' 17 extending longitudinally through the shaft and thenradially as indicated at17a for lcommunication '.vith a conventional form of valved oil cup .18. Ars illustrated' to advantage in Figure rhollow to permit the supply of a lubricant i 6, the'ball head 16 is formed-with an aniiul lai' flange 19, and embracing the ball at opposite sides 4of'tlieframc is a two-part-spherical socket comprising sections 2() and 21 each ofvwhich is formedwith arcuate flanges 22 and 23, respectively.'o These anges 22 and y23 -are adapted to have vsliding' lit within grooves 2 4 and 25 of the hollow semispherical sections 26 and27 of a two-part homing.

As shown in Fig-lures 4 and 5, the sections 26 and 27 are formed with annular connectingflanges 28 and 29 which are secured toget h'er as illustrated in Figure'2 thereby maintaining the sections lof the housing in spherical formation' so as to 'completely house the ball and socket members. The housingsection 28 is recessed as indicate@1 at 30 to receive an annular collar 31 formed on the 'section 27 whereby an interfitting of the confronting sides of the sections `is effected to maintain a iluidftight connection between the two.

As shown in Figure 1, the housingsection 26 is formed with an opening 32 through which the flattened neck 145 extends. This opening is of suliicient size to allow the necessary lateral movement of the neck 15,` Figure 1 is a view showing in longitudinal section one form of universal joint embodybut isat all times spanned by a hood 33 the shaft l) andengaged by an expansible spring 35 by which the hood is normally urged in the direction of the housing so as to 'maintain La dust insulating strip 36 lof suitable material in contact with the outer surface of the housing section 26. -The spring 35 is interposed between the collar 34 and a removable collar 3 7 secured thereon by a split ring 38. l-

' The `housing' section 27 4is provided with a tubular extension- 39 having a conical bore to receive the conical end 4() of a driving shaft D. *This conical end is keyed within the extension 39 and secured against removal-by means of-a nut 41 engaging the inner Kend of the'shaft as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

In 'order that the movable surfaces'of'the ioo elements comprising the joint may at all times be "properly lubricated, oil supplied to the ball head 16 through the duct 17 can be delivered to the outer surface of the ball, the inner surface of the socket sections 23. and 21, the outer surfaces of said sections and the inner surfaces "of housing sec-` he clear that the complete housing is ro- This i'otational movement of thev fated.

Y housing is'iinparted to the socket sections 2O and 21 through the co-acting grooves 24 and and theflanges 22 and 23, and with rotation ofthe socket sections, it Will he clear thatsuch rotational movement is iinparted to the ball by virtue of the fact that the flange 19 formed thereon is interposed between the `socket sections 20 and 21 and at right angles to the flanges 22 and 23. Of course, with rotation of the ball head 16, the rotational movement of the driving shaft is imparted to the driven shaft D, and. this driving connectioncan be maintained irrespective of the osition of the drivenshaft in respect to t e driving shaft, it being manifest thatthe ball head 16 permits the necessary' freedom` of movement of the driven shaft in a horizontal plane as when viewed in Figure 1, while the socket sections 20 and 21 permit movement of the driven shaft in a vertical plane andv of the housing section 26.

Although I have hereinl shown and de-A scribed only one form of universal joint.

embodying my invention, it is to he understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of `the invention and vthe spirit yand scope of the appended claims.

independently housing receiving the socket parts and having grooves slidably receiving the flanges of the socket parts, said housing being provided 'with an opening through which said shaft extends, said shaft being'provided with a duct through which oil can be supplied interiorly of said ball, and said ball and socket sections being provided with openings for delivering oil supplied tolthe' ball to the working surfaces of said ball, socket and housing.

2; A universal joint comprising a ball provided exteriorly with a continuous flange projecting from the surface of the ball, a two-part socket embracing the ballat opposite sides of the flangeso that the flange is interposed between the parts of the socket, the parts of the socket 'each provided ex teriorly with a flange which coacts to pro!l duce a continuous flange at right angles to thelball flange, anda housing having grooves for receiving the flange of the' socket.

3. A-universal joint as embodied in claim l 2, wherein the ball is hollow and a shaft is secured tothe ball and provided with a duct through which a lubricant can besupplied interiorly of the ball, and said ball and socket having openings for delivering lubricant supplied to the ball to the working surfaces -of the ball, socket and housing.

4, A universal joint comprising a shaft, a hollow flanged ball formed on one end of the shaft, a two-part socket rotatably receivf ing the ball, flanges on the socket at right angles to the flangeof the ball, a housing' receiving the socket and having grooves slidably receiving the flanges of the socket, said housing beingprovided with an opening throughwhich said shaft extends,` said shaft being provided With a duct throughv which oil can be supplied'interiorly of said ball, and said ball and socket being provided with openings for delivering oilsuppled to the ball to the working surfaces of said ball, socket and housing.

ELMBR Gf BURivsf 

